Category: nanotech

Nanotechnology is a branch of science which deals with materials and structures on a nanoscale level. This technology has brought hope in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD)-one of life threats in the world.

Computer Aided Design Developments

The causative agents of CAD involve many cellular disease processes and biological factors that can be mitigated through therapeutic methods aided by nanotechnology. Using this technology to treat heart-related ailments has brought possibilities like treating defective heart valves, treating arterial plaques and helping researchers on better medicines.

One of the breakthroughs in this field of medicine is finding a way to deliver cardiac stem cells to damaged heart tissue. Scientists attach nanovesicles which are attracted to injured stem cells in order to increase the number of stem cells delivered to the injured tissue.

In the University of Santa Barbara, scientists have devised a nanoparticle that can deliver a drug to a plaque at the wall of an artery. This development in nanotechnology is achieved by attaching a protein known as a peptide to a nanoparticle which then attaches itself to the plaque’s surface.

Researchers plan to use this method to put imaging drugs and particles to determine the amount of existing arterial plaques and to treat it as well. The treatment of the patch is crucial because it is a significant cause of cardiovascular disease.

Drug Developments and Breakthroughs

Harvard Medical School and MIT did research and identified a new process to attach a different peptide which is a nanoparticle carrying drug. The peptide attaches itself to a membrane exposed to damaged artery walls, thereby allowing the nanoparticle to release the drug to the damaged part.

This drug helps in preventing the growth of scar tissue that can result in clogging of the arteries. The particles can be designed to issue the drug for several days.

This technology is among the first sure methods that can be used to deliver a drug to an injured vascular tissue correctly. The particles are specifically targeted to a structure called basement structure that lines the arterial walls and is exposed when those walls are damaged.

In the University of South Carolina, experts are combining gold nanoparticles with collagen protein. If there are wrong levels of collagen in the heart valves, this may affect the functioning of the valves.

High quantities of the collagen make the valves to be stiff while low levels make them floppy. Nanotechnology is used by combining the gold nanoparticles with collagens to change the mechanical properties of the valves, providing the possibility to repair malfunctioning heart valves with no need for surgery.

The implications of the venture go way beyond repairing valves; researchers are set to use the same principle in nanomaterials to heal wounds and cancer treatment. It would be achieved by excluding the tumor and keep the cancer cells from spreading.

Imaging and Detection Advancements

At imperial college in London, scientists are using a scanning ion conductance microscope (SICM) which is a device that helps in producing improved images of live muscles of the heart than it was previously possible. The experts use a nanopipet to inject drugs that stimulate beta muscles in specific portions of the cells.

The beta muscles cause the heart to contract. The method of activating beta muscles aids researchers in determining the differences between healthy and faulty heart muscle cells an endeavor that can lead to advancements in the use of drugs called beta blockers and design of future treatments.

The named beta-blockers slow down the development of heart failure which is an excellent improvement in the field of therapeutic approach to treating abnormal heart rhythms. The beta blockers prevent adrenaline from affecting the cells of the heart by targeting beta receptors.

White blood cells are tasked with protecting the body from foreign invaders and infectious diseases. However, when these cells attack the LDL molecules, they cause plaque deposits on the walls of the artery.

Rutgers’ researchers have invented a nanoparticle named nanolipoblocker that is designed to bind itself to the white blood cells and prevent them from attacking the LDL cholesterol molecules. This is the latest technique in the fight against cardiovascular disease.

Experts at the State University of New Jersey proposed to devise a way to rescue clogged arteries via attacking how harmful cholesterol causes inflammation and buildup at specific blood vessels. The approach to treat the disease thwarts a biological process that is hugely beneficial and necessary.

Nanoparticle Applications

Studies in various species of mice have revealed that using nanoparticles to target delivery of clot tPA drug can drastically reduce the needed dosage for the drug leading to reduced side effects like internal bleeding. The drug preventing clotting was attached to a group of nanoparticles that break the turbulent flow of blood especially the one formed by the restricted flow of blood due to a clot.

Nanoparticles targeting proteins common to blood clots have been invented to deliver bismuth –a chemical element- to unstable plaques and clots in the bloodstream. This chemical element enhances CAT scan images, and the technique has been shown in labs in testing clots in mice.

This idea will be used by researchers to locate clots and unstable plaque that could break and block arteries. The technique will be a significant boost in curing heart-related diseases once fully implemented.

A research done in Manchester’s School of Materials is geared to developing a nanoscale sensor which is coated in DNA. This DNA binds to a chemical named myoglobin that increases in blood plasma in a heart attack and can be detected and measured by an electric test.

This technique is used in many hospitals to determine whether a patient has had a heart attack. Experts state that this advancement in the detection of heart attack will improve the rate of survival after a heart attack.

Another way that has been introduced by scientists is the use of nanotubes to alter adult stem cells into a type that will aid in restoring injured heart tissues. The method has been adopted since a patient’s heart is incapable of initiating a self-repair process.

Nanotechnology can be seen as the answer to the battle against cardiovascular diseases. The advancements in the medical world and research institutes have brought hope to many patients who are suffering from different heart ailments.

Nanobiotechnology is a science in which apparatus from nanotechnology are designed and used in the study of biological marvels.

It is the learning and application of very minute things and can be applied across other science disciplines like engineering, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and material science.

Nanobiotechnology entails the combination of nanotechnology and biotechnology through which usual micro-technology is joined to the molecular biological method in real.

Then, atomic grade technologies can be produced by integrating biological systems to control biological system varied properties on the molecular basis.

Nanobiotechnology might ease a lot of life sciences avenues through incorporating nanotechnology and information technology applications in modern-day biological issues.

Benefits of NanoBioTechnology

The inception of Nanobiotechnology has come with various benefits which include the following;

Benefits

Efficient drug targeting which is achievable by capitalizing on the diverse pathophysiological diseased tissues features.

Enhancement of drug efficiency and drug toxicity reduction-this is possible through loading of drugs on nanoparticles, which alters tissue and cell distribution and culminates into an enhanced selective biologically active compounds delivery.

Selective localization of nanosystems in sore tissues.

Improvement of nanosystems in inflamed tissues and tumors- through enhanced permeability alongside tumors’ lymphatic drainage leading to healthier retention and transmission.

Nanoparticles will be able to deliver important drugs overcoming meninges.

Nanomedicine is simply a branch of medicine that involves the knowledge as well as nanotechnology tools.

It is used for the treatment and prevent of diseases.

It can be used in various applications such as in biosensors, diagnostic devices, tissue engineering. In addition, Nanomedicine involves using nanoscale-materials like biocompatible nanoparticles as well as nanorobots for purposes of diagnosis, delivery, actuation or rather sensing purposes in a living organism.

Therefore, we can define Nanomedicine as an application of nanomaterials or rather nanoparticles for medicine.

Whereby, nanoparticles acts as a form of transport-for drugs thus can go places onto which drugs would not be able to-go on their own,

Often, nanoparticles are engineered and designed-to package as well as transport drugs directly onto where they are needed. The approach is used to ensure that the drugs causes most-harm in the particular as well as intended area of the tumor-cancer in which they are delivered to and in-turn reduces collateral damages to the
surrounding healthy tissues as well as the side-effects.

Introduction to Nanomedicine

According to the recent study of people treated-for cancer as children in the US from the 1970s-1999; it was found that despite the fact there has been an increase in the survival rates over the years, it was surprising that the cancer survivors lives a low quality life which was more worse for those treated in the 1990s.

In addition, on average, 70 percent of childhood cancer-survivors experience various side-effects from their treatments that include secondary cancers though the survival rates has improve and the population of childhood-cancer survivors continues to grow world-wide.

Apparently, these side-effects cause stress for survivors as well as to their families and in-turn increase demand on health-system, Thanks to the introduction of a new area of medicine-nanomedicine; it has brought hope for better cancer treatment for
children with fewer side-effects as well as improved quality of life that is,
for cancer survivors,

The Beginning of Nanomedicine…

The first cancer-nanomedice known as Doxil was approved by the US-Food & Drug Administration in 1995.

This drug has been use for treating adult cancers such
as:

Multiple Myelma

Ovarian cancer

Karposi’s sarcoma; a rare cancer

that tend to affect individuals with immune deficiency like HIV and Aids.

Today, there are various new nanomedicine treatments for adult-cancers on the market.

However, a limited number of such medications have been approved to be
effective for children’s cancers.

How Nanomedicine works

The nanoparticle drug-delivery systems often work in different ways. Apart from
carrying the drugs-for delivery, these nanoparticles can also be engineered to
carry a certain compound that will enable them attach or even bind to molecules
that are on tumor cells. Hence, once they are attached, the nanoparticles can
safely deliver the drugs onto the specific tumor-site.

In addition, Nanoparticles can help with drug solubility. In that, for a certain
drug to work, it is necessary for the drug to enter the bloodstream thus it
means that it has to be soluble. However, there are certain drugs that are
insoluble such as the cancer drug-paclitaxed (Taxol) thus for such drugs to
work properly, they have to-be dissolved in a delivery-agent to ensure that they
get into the blood though this agents can sometimes cause allergic-reactions in
patients

To avoid such allergic reactions when using delivery agents for insoluble drugs,
chemists come up with a nanoparticle from a naturally occurring protein
albumin. This nanoparticle carries the paclitaxel or even other insoluble drugs
and makes them soluble though with no allergic reactions.

When it comes to cancer treatment; often tumors have disordered as well as leaking
blood vessels sprouting through-and-off them. On instances, these vessels allow
chemotherapy-drugs to enter the tumour readily but since the chemotherapy
molecules tend to be so small, they as well diffuse through these same vessels
as well as out of the tumor whereby, attacking surrounding tissues.

Henceforth, since nanoparticles have larger molecules, they get trapped inside the cancer tumor in which they help kill the cancer cells effectively. After they have
deliver the drug-cargo into the cells, these nanoparticles can be designed in
such a way that they can break-down into harmless by-products which can be
important especially for children since they are still developing.

Types of Nanoparticles

There are various types of nanoparticles though they vary in characteristics(structure) such as shape and size though an array of nanoparticle-structures are still being engineered and they include:

1.Shape of a DNA-origami

They tend not to be seen by the immune system as foreign body making it easier for them to transport drugs to diseased cells as they evade the immune system of the body thus reducing the drugs’ side-effects.

2. Polymeric nanocarriers

Doctors combine a nanomedicine-polymeric nanocarrier with a drug which silences the cancer gene to deliver the drugs to the cancer-tumor. In-turn, these drugs limits the expression of the cancer-gene, blocks tumor growth as well as reduces the spread of cancer.

Applications of Nanomedicine

1. For cancer treatment

Nanoparticlees have large molecules hence this allows for various functional groups to be binded or attached to a nanoparticle that in-turn seek-out and bind to specific
tumor cells. to sum it up, based on the small-size of the nanoparticles 910-100nanometer), it enable them to accumulate at tumor sites preferentially since tumors lack an effective lymphatic-drainage system.

In reference to the shortcomings of conventional cancer chemotherapy such as drug resistance,
lack of solubility as well as lack of selectivity; with nanoparticles, all
these problems are solved. Through the use of nanoparticles, doctors can now
direct the chemotherapy to the-tumor area or site and minimize exposure
directed to the rest of patient’s body thus reduce side-effects and maximizes
effectiveness of the drug in use.

In addition, with nanotechnology, we can reduce the frequency in which we often take our drugs. On instances, our body can quickly as well as effectively remove
medications out of our system thus reducing the drug’s duration of action and
limiting the effectiveness of the drugs.

2. Imaging

In the area of “In ViVo imaging”, you can use nanoparticles contrast agents to clear out and improve contrast on images in ultrasound and MRI. When it comes to cardiovascular imaging, nanoparticles can be of great use since they have potential to enhance visualization of blood-pooling, angiogenesis, ischemia, atherosclerosis as well as focal areas in which inflammations are present.

Based on the unique property of nanoparticles; it’s small size molecules entails quantum dots-size-tunable light emission that when used in-conjunction with MRI produces exceptional images of tumor-sites. The nanoparticles-quantum dots tend to glow when they are exposed to ultraviolet-light enabling the surgeon to see the glowing-tumor as well as use it to accurately remove the tumor.

3. Sensing

Gold nanoparticles 9often tagged with short-segments of DNA) can be used to detect genetic-sequence in a sample. In addition, Sensor test-chips that contain thousands of nanowires can be used to detect proteins as well as other biomarkers that are left-behind by cancer cells. It can greatly help in detection as well as diagnosis of cancer while in the early stages basically from a few blood drops of a patent.

4. Blood purification

Magnetic micro-particles has been used in separating cells and proteins from complex media. This technology is known as Magnetic-activated cell sorting or rather Dynabeads. The purification-process is based on functionalized iron-oxide or rather carbon coated-metal nanoparticles that have ferromagnetic properties.

The binding-agents are like antibodies, proteins.

Antibiotics or rather synthetic ligands are linked covalently to the particle
surfact.

The binding agent interacts with the target species in which they form agglomerate. By applying an external magnetic-field gradient, it allows exerting a force onto the nanoparticles thus the particles are separated from the heavy fluid hence cleaning it from the-contaminants.

Due to the small size as well as large surface area of the nanomagnets, It makes it to have more advantageous properties as compared to hemoperfusion-a clinically used-technique for blood purification that is based on surface-absorption. The amazing properties of nanomagnetic are high-loading as well as accessible for binding agents; fast diffusion; high-selective towards the target compound; involves small hydrodynamic resistance as well as uses low dosage.

With this approach, doctos can treat various systemic infections like sepsis by just directly removing the pathogen. In addition, it can be used to remove endotoxins or even cytokines selectively, for compounds’ dialysis that isn’t accessible by traditional-dialysis methods.

5. Tissue engineering

Lastly, Nanotechnology can also be used for tissue engineering to help repair or reproduce or rather reshape damage tissue by using suitable nanomaterials though based on scaffolds as well as growth factors.

Nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes, grapheme, tungsten disulfide as well as molybdenum disulfide has been used as reinforcing-agents to mechanically fabricate strong biodegradable-polymeric nanocomposites for bone-tissue engineering applications.

Even our prehistoric cousins quickly found out they can use remedies from nature to aid some of their problems.

Of course, they also believed in supernatural forces and prayed to their gods for salvation.

If they could see what is going on today in the field of medicine, they would probably think it is some kind of magic.

To be honest, even as a Homo sapiens living in the 21st century, you can also easily be left in doubt and amazement after finding out about some breakthroughs being made in the field of medicine and technology.

The combination of these two fields – medicine and technology, resulted in nanomedicine.

Let’s find out a bit more about nanomedicine and how to get a job in this field of work.

What Is Nanomedicine?

After analyzing the word nanomedicine, it is obvious something very small is used in medicine.

To be more precise – nanomaterials or nanoparticles.

One nanometre is one billionth part of a meter (nanoparticles usually range from 20 to 100 nanometers).

These tiny particles perform an amazing job in transporting drugs throughout the body.

This way the drugs reach places they couldn’t go on their own.

Nanoparticles have a broad application – from aiding food production to drug delivery and acting as biological computers.

Perhaps the most groundbreaking is their appliance in cancer treatment.

Scientists identified a tumor-promoting gene, and nanotechnology can be used to silence them.

The best thing is that nanomedicine young and just began to develop.

Nobody knows what the future brings, but it sure looks promising.

The world demand for experts in the field of biology and technology is very high.

The collaboration of diverse teams is encouraged and promoted, as the best mean to develop even more sophisticated models.

If you want to be a part of the team that practices nanomedicine, read on.

Perhaps one day you will also be one of the pioneers of a significant discovery.
How to Get a Job in Nanomedicine?
Education requirements

First thing’s first – you have to know nanotechnology to enter the world of nanomedicine.

A career in nanotechnology requires a solid formal education.

Courses in nanotechnology usually include nano-techniques and instruments, nanomaterials, microbiology, nanofabrication, and nanotechnology safety.

Additionally, some degree programs require that students fulfill internships in the field of nanotechnology.

Nanotechnologists working as medical scientists are required to have a Medical degree, Ph.D., or both.

In general, it is hard for medical scientists to find a job without a Ph.D.

Required Skills

Skills necessary for working in nanomedicine depend on the specific field of interest.

However, some skills are very appreciated for all fields together.

Besides a good knowledge in primary fields of work (medicine, biology, nanotechnology), the required skills include:

Numerical skills

Systematic approach and analysis

Logical thinking

IT skills

Teamwork

Writing skills

Good communication skills

Presentation skills

Effective time management

Effective financial management

Effective resource management

Where to Work in the field of Nanomedicine?

“New cancer-hunting nano-robots to seek and destroy tumors”, Nanotechnology in medicine isn’t just about size”, Nanomedicine could improve chemotherapy delivery”…

These are just a few of the headlines related to nanomedicine.

think of what future headlines will be – “We’ve finally beaten cancer”.

This doesn’t have to be far into the future but may happen in the following few years.

It must be very exciting to work on projects like these.

However, as a beginner, there is a long way ahead of you.

Luckily, nanomedicine has so many different fields of work, that there is plenty of room for everyone who would like to join.

You can practice nanomedicine in universities and different laboratories.

Don’t be limited to finding a job only in big companies.

There are medium and small-sized companies that offer excellent opportunities to perform research.

Some of the companies hiring in the US are Houston Methodist (Research Administrator), Hackensack Meridian Health (Postdoc Research Fellow, Immuno-Bioengineering), Pfizer (Formulation Scientist, Nanoparticles), The National Institutes of Health (Intravital Microscope Postdoc Fellow Position), George Mason University (Postdoctoral Research Fellow), and many more.

What is Blood Purification and How is it Useful

Blood purification means in this context cleaning of blood in that it gets cleaned and works at its optimum level.

Most people do it once yearly.

Blood is vital in the conveying of oxygen and nutrients in the body, actually, it is responsible for the proper functioning of body organs.

Blood flow relies upon ingredients which are fed into it, blood is the conveyance medium and it does not work on its own.

This, therefore, implies that if we allow impurities and toxins into our blood system, it is still going to carry blood to various parts of a body.

Organs get destroyed when it is contaminated with dirty and impure blood, rendering them functionless.

High amounts of impurities at this can prompt visiting the hospital in the worst case scenario.

Infections and viruses get carried easily into the body through blood, this statement is enough to alarm to be vigilant about blood and also its purification.

Here are some of the benefits of Blood purification:

1. Proper organ function.

As mentioned earlier, blood is responsible for good organ functioning and offers the body oxygen and nutrients.

One has to make sure that the blood pressure is normal and also its thickness.

All of this relies upon purification of blood in the body and shows that consuming clean
and nutritious food is essential to every aspect of the body.

2. Clear soft skin.

A clean flow of blood and blood free from any toxins help in maintaining the
clarity of the skin, this is because healthy and clean red blood vessels are vital to skin related cases and pimples.

Additionally, it assists in maintaining skin quality along with its texture since the red blood cells help in transporting oxygen.

3. Improved Health

Healthy blood is equal to a healthy life; it drives the health clock right back into its initial track. Moreover, it assists to prevent any kidney related infections.

4. Boosts The immune system

The immune framework acts as a body shield against common maladies and some of the fatal viruses.

The most important duty of blood is to provide the needed healthy nutrients and oxygen to the body system.

Blood helps refuel the need for immunity every now and then. Whatever the body takes in is incorporated into the blood and gets conveyed to different body parts.

5. General development

Blood purification is essential to lose excess weight and moreover maintain the amount of hemoglobin.

The blood as a huge responsibility of keeping different levels in a body. For instance, hemoglobin.

Thus, it is essential to regularly clean blood.

6. Free- Radical harm

The purification procedure incorporates a lot of anti-oxidants use, this will calm down the damaging effects of the free radicals that could responsible for causing cancer.

7. Liver stimulation

When blood that is clean gets to the liver it boosts its overall functioning, it gets rid of the wastes thus maintaining the body free from any waste.

8. Improved digestive system.

The process of blood purification implies the total cleaning of the blood, wastes from digestion are no exemption.

The ordeal flushes away all that the body does not need. hence, the individual’s stomach movements are improved.

How to purify Blood and why?

1. Fitness

Being fit is vital for body development and growth, though stating fit comes with a lot of physical advantages.

However, it is amazing to comprehend that ii as well responsible for the body blood purification.

Exercising flushes out toxins from the body through the sweat and it also filters out the blood.

Moreover, elevates stamina and also pumps a lot more blood throughout the body.

2 Healthy food

The fundamental creator of nutrient and blood is food, the type of food that we consume has a duty in blood purification.

In case we eat food which is rich in saturated fat, toxins, and oils, then it is with no doubt going to impact negatively on the blood purity.

This could result in an increment of diseases, due to the fact that the heart now takes the
responsibility to purify and pump blood that is clean throughout the body.

It is obviously necessary for us to eat a diet which does not challenge the heart to purify the blood.

Light diets allow the heart to be healthy and have less work enabling it to last long.

Vegetable like the broccoli, beets, cabbage, watercress, and carrots provide a huge source vitamin, manganese, phosphorous and calcium which boosts detoxification and hence valued
as best foods in the blood purification.

They function better if you are consuming it in a liquid form for instance juice.

Also putting garlic in your diet will extricate fat from the blood, it will prompt reduced amounts of bad cholesterol contained in blood.

Additionally, as pharmaceuticals that are essential in the liver detoxification.

Garlic can be chewed directly for best results or it could be sprinkled to the food to improve the flavor.

Moreover, onions contain Sulphur that has the ability to make extracellular fluids pure,
it flushes out the toxins by giving away fighting agents.

3. Water

Water is life, it is an important resource in survival.it stands out as the biggest cleansers in the body of any human not only on the inside but also on the outside.

Medical experts advise that drinking a lot of water daily is beneficial due to the fact that our bodies comprise 70% of water.

It allows the washing away of toxins and maintaining body hydration.

4. Resting as well as Fasting

Although this sounds absurd, fasting is the way to go while pursuing a healthy lifestyle and it is recommended for proper health.

For individuals who cannot avoid high-calorie food or the ingredients with high toxins, then it is advisable to have a detox day which will assist you to flush out the impurities.

This ensures the stomach has some rest at least for a day from digesting food that is heavy.

During this detox day, you can take liquid things, for instance, water and fruits.

They reimburse nutrients back into your body and boost the level of oxygen contained in the blood.